Strawberry Spinach And Quinoa

Some lunches feel like a reset button, and this one totally does.

You get soft quinoa, sweet strawberry pieces, lots of spinach, a little walnut crunch, and lemon that keeps everything from drifting off into bland territory.

I love the way it looks a tiny bit fancy while still being the kind of thing you can throw together without a meltdown.

This is my lunch on a sunny day, with a cold drink nearby and not a lot of nonsense.

The mix of fruit and greens could feel too precious, but the quinoa keeps it grounded.

And yeah, this one is fresh fresh in the best way.

See The Salad Come Together

Watch the video above if you wanna see the bowl go from the saucepan to the final plate without missing a beat.

Ingredients You Need

• Water
• Salt
• 1/4 cup quinoa
• 2 oz spinach
• 3 strawberries
• 1 tbsp chopped walnuts
• 1 tsp lemon juice

How To Make Strawberry Spinach And Quinoa

1. 

   Add the quinoa to the salted water in a small pan and cook it until the grains puff up and turn tender.

   That soft quinoa base carries the whole bowl, so give it a minute to do its thing.

2. 

   Gather the spinach on a board and chop it into pieces that feel easy to eat.

   The video doesn’t leave the leaves huge, which I appreciate because giant spinach bites can be a little rude.

3. 

   Slice the strawberries into small pieces so they spread through the salad instead of sitting in one sweet corner.

   You only need three, which is honestly kinda cute.

4. 

   Chop the walnuts into little bits.

   They don’t need to be tiny tiny, just small enough to sprinkle through the greens and quinoa.

5. 

   Add the cooked quinoa, spinach, strawberries, and walnuts to a bowl, then drizzle the lemon juice over the top.

   That lemon is the whole mood shift right there.

6. 

   Toss the bowl until the spinach, berries, quinoa, and walnuts look mixed through from top to bottom.

   You want a little bit of everything in each forkful, not just spinach on one side and strawberries on the other.

7. 

   Slide it onto a plate and serve it right away.

   It looks super fresh, and it tastes like it, too.

Why The Lemon Helps

The lemon keeps the quinoa from tasting flat and gives the strawberries a cleaner edge instead of making the bowl feel dessert-ish.

It also wakes the spinach up without needing a heavier dressing, which is nice on a warm day.

Little Things I’d Keep In Mind

Let the quinoa cool a bit before tossing it with the spinach so the leaves don’t slump too fast.

Cut the strawberries small enough to travel through the bowl, because big pieces can make the mix feel patchy.

Use the walnuts at the end if you want their crunch to stay extra noticeable.

When I Like To Eat It

This is my favorite kind of light lunch when the afternoon already feels too full, and you don’t want food that drags you down.

It also works for a quiet brunch plate if you’re into that sort of thing.

How To Keep It Fresh

This salad is nicest the day you make it, because the spinach and strawberries both get softer as they sit.

If you need to stash it for later, keep it covered in the fridge and eat it soon.

Questions You Might Have

Is this one sweet or savory?

Its both, but not in a weird way, because the lemon and walnuts pull it back into lunch territory.

Do I need to chop the spinach?

The video shows it on the board and cut down, so that’s the move if you want the same texture.

Can I skip the walnuts?

If you’re following the video exactly, keep them in, because they’re the only crunchy bit the bowl gets.

Use The Extra Spinach

If youve still got spinach left, fold it into Keto Grilled Halloumi & Spinach Salad Recipe or turn the fruit angle up and make Quinoa Fruit Salad.

Extra lemon would also wake up Quinoa Salad With Avocado real nicely.

More Wellness Warrior Salad Ideas

• Quinoa Fruit Salad
• Quinoa Salad With Avocado
• Keto Grilled Halloumi & Spinach Salad Recipe
• Keto Shrimp and Spinach Salad